Grip



F. A. FOXHA-LL.

GRIP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18. I920- 1,435,634, Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- F. A. FOXHALL GRIP. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18. 1920- msmm.

I ments in Grips,

Patented Nov. 1 1%, 1922,

rarest FREDERICK e, roxrrann or nctrnsrnan, rnnnsrnvnme.

earn.

Application filed December 18, 1920. SeriaINo. 431,678.

To all whom it wmg concern: I

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. Fox- HALL, a citizen of the United States, and residentof Homestead, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improveof which the following is a specification. 1 This invention relates to gripping devices and more particularly to a skull cracker grip'adapted to lift a heavy skull cracker'ball, a considerable distance in the an, and then to opened allowing the ball to fall and strike an -article to be broken, which is positioned immediately below the ball. l I

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a lock for holdingthe' jaws of the grip in closed position until unlocked by the operator, thus preventing premature release of the-ball with its resultant dangers.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a grip having a lock that may be operated by the same cable or chain used to trip the grip, thus facilitating the operation of the device and allowing 'the'operator to be stationed a safe distance from the skull. cracker before he releases the lock.

A still further object of the'invention is tov provide a'grip of the class described that is strong and durable, and is formed of a minimum number of parts, thereby provid ing a practical and safe device for the use to which, it is intended. I

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is" a side elevation of my improved grip, 1F igure 2 is a top plan thereof:

Figure 3 is a side elevation on a larger scale, of'a portion of the apparatus show .ing details in the construction of the locking members,

1 Figure dis a plan of the parts of the ap paratus illustrated in Figure 3. i

Inthe accompanying'drawings, forming part of this specification, the gripping mechanism has two limbs, 2 and 3, which are pivotally connected intermediate their ends,

and have curved or hooked lower ends 4 and 2 has its upper end pivotally. connected to N locked position: byuthe spring pressed pm a clevis 8 to which the chain hook of the skull cracker crane, or other lifting mechanism is attached when the grip is in use.

The'otherlimb 3 has'thenpper end of its 15 is connected to one end through an opening or hole shank 7' detachably held, by engagement with the head 9 on the hook end of the tripping lever 10,'so as to secure the curved lower ends d'andt of the limbs 2 and 3 in closed position. The lever 10 is pivotally mounted on a bolt 11, which conveniently 1s used also to'secure a clevis 8 to the upper end of the shank 6 of the limb 2.

The curved lower ends 4 and 5 of the limbs 2 and 3'when in closed position are adapted to engage with the eye or link 12 of a skull cracker ball and hold the ball,

as will be apparent by'reference to the drawings. The safety look by which the hooked end of the tripping lever 10 is secured in position to maintain the limb 3 of the grip in closed position and prevent tripping thereof accidentally, comprises a cam 13 on a shaft '14 which is mounted so as to turn or oscillate in a suitable opening formed in the head 9 and a swinging cam operating lever '15 is secured to the upper end of the shaft the shank engaging face of the head 9, and

as arranged to turn or oscillate through part of a revolution so as to enter and move out of the slot or keeper16 in one face of the beveled upper end of the shank 7 of the limb3.-f w The outer end of the swinging cam lever of a tripping chain or cable 18 which extends rearwardly 19 in the rear end ofthe trippinglever 10 andthen downwardly to the'ground where it maybe grasped by an operator; The chain or cable forming the flexible connection 18 is provided withalarge link or stop 20 to limit its free movement through the opening 19, thereby limiting its action on the cam lever 15 and, after moving the cam lever 15 so as .to' move the cam out of the slot 16, cause the pull of thechain 18 to be exerted on the'tripping lever 10 to lift the head 9 and thereby trip the limbs of the grlp and release the skull cracker ball 12.

"The cam vlever 15 is .yie ldingly held in ,orlatch25 mounted in the upper face of the head 9 of the tripping lever 10, this pin beingarranged-to fit within a recess or hole 

